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Tyco Trains

Tyco Maintenance & Repair Shop

LED lens for headlight, Mantua F7, Tony Clark's

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AMC_Gremlin_GT
Big Boy

Status: offline

Posted - December 12 2011 : 10:07:32 PM

While working on Tony Clark's F7/MU-2 Mantua to rehabilitate it from non-functioning to road-worthy status, I had a brainstorm last night. I had more than a few bad bi-color LEDs at work, with a white housing. I thought, Hey, wonder if I could make a headlight out of the front LED half for these Tyco F7's? So, while at work, I rigged up an LED holder using an Xact-o blade handle, and with a Dremel and cut-off wheel, I proceeded to cut the front half of the LED off some bad ones. After a trial fit on my own F7 shell, I realized it'd have to be trimmed down some to fit the hole. So, back to the bad LED bin. Chucked in a few more, and made a cut behind the front lense part, then skimmed plastic off with the wheel back of that point. Once I'd done that, I cut it off a bit more than 1/8 inch long. Not much there! After some trial and error, I finally got one that fit, but it was bulging out too far, so I cut another one, less than 1/8 inch long. THAT one looks more realistic, sunken into the hole some. I cut a red LED up as well, figured I might as well have some fun with it.

See Traindolph below.
Got home tonight, and finished Tony's train repairs, and reassembled it with a new light bulb, and mounted this LED lens up front. Here's what it looks like :

The light bulb shines thru the LED plastic, and lights up nicely. Whadayathink, Tony? Do you like it?

If not, it's easily removed and returned to stock, I didn't bung up the hole, I just used some Walther's Goo to set it in place, so it will be easy to return to your original state if you don't like it. I just thought a light bulb shining through an open hole didn't look good.

Here's a night shot of it, upstairs on the test track -

Has a nice shine to it when dark, diffuses nicely with the LED lense in front.

Here's a daylight shot with my Santa Fe F7, and cheesy plastic MU-2 motor drive ( doesn't work ) -

And, I'm creating a Christmas Santa Fe, this one is called Traindolph the red nosed Train, dear. I've already created a song for him, too. -

While I was at it, I thought I'd make some number board decals on my printer at work. I think they turned out decent. Want some of those on your F7, Tony?

I got plenty of them.

Anyway, I'll post pics later of my LED cuttings, I have the pieces, but haven't taken any photos of them yet. Wanted to get Tony's engine back up and running for him, and BOY howdy does it scoot! I thought I'd incarnated a Hustler when I fired that engine up, it runs quick! Seems to be very smooth, unfortunately my steel test track has corroded again, so I can't run it around that without it stopping every few feet, but the straight EZ track , it just boogies along. Seems to be doing just fine with a clean-up, lube, power truck replacement, and some resoldering of the wires that were corroded. I think you'll be happy with it, Tony.

Well, I'll plan on shipping it out Wednesday, Tony. I'll put it in a bigger box to prevent accidental destruction. Came through the mail ok, though. All for now,

Jerry

" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"

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